Clothes-line.



PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

C. W. BOESE.

CLOTHES LINE.

APPLIOATIION PILB D 0020.27. 1905.

Inventor.

Attorneys z'm wimmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed October 27, 1905. Serial No. 284,699.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. BOESE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Clothes- Line, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of clothes-lines which are made up of links constructed of resilient material, such as wire, and which are provided with loops for the introduction of the corners or edges of the fabrics or garments that are to be suspended for drying purposes, said corners or edges being introduced between contacting portions of the resilient links and there held or sustained by frictional contact with the link portions.

The present invention has for its objects to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices; and with these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists primarily in certain improvements in the construction of the individual links whereby the free ends of the strip of wire or material composing said link may be easily and conveniently connected together in a thoroughly safe and durable manner. 1

The invention further consists in the combination with the improved link of a clamping device of simple construction, readily applicable to and removable therefrom for the purpose of regulating the degree of resiliency of the link portions, so as to enable extremely fine and frail, as well as coarse and heavy fabrics, garments, and the like, to be suspended and held with equal security and efficiency.

The invention further consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the pre cise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations, and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a link. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the link with the-clamping attachment applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping device detached. Fig. 4 is a detail plan View of the fastening device used for connecting the free ends of. the link. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of a link equipped with a modified form of clamping device.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The improved link is constructed of a piece or strip of material, such as wire, which may be of any metal possessing sufficient resiliency for the purposes of the invention, and which, if necessary, is protected from corrosion by galvanizing or otherwise. The ends 2 2 of the strip 1 are bent in the direction of each other and spaced from the body of the strip to form ears 3 3, the side members of which, 4 and 5, are spaced apart from each other a distance equal to the diameter of the wire 1. The end members 2 2 are bent adjacent to the ears 3 3 to form upstanding loops 6 6, and the parts of said end members which extend in the direction of each other from the loops 6 are placed throughout in direct contact with the body of the strip 1, except at their inner extremities, which are upturned to form lugs 7, which are slightly spaced apart.

For the purpose of connecting the extremities of the end members 2 with the body of the wire there is employed a small plate 8 of sheet metal having perforations 9 9 for the passage of the lugs 7. Said plate 8 is provided at its ends with laterally-extending narrow strips 11, which after the plate has been adjusted and bent into position are wrapped upon the body of the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thus assembling the parts in a very effective and durable manner.

The clamping device illustrated in Fig. 3 is composed of a single piece of resilient wire, preferably of the same gage as the wire used in the construction of the link. The wire constituting the clamping device is bent to form a Ushaped handle 12, the arms of which are provided with parallel offsets 0, each including a pair of parallel arms 13, sepa rated by a space equal to the diameter of the wire and connected at their extremities by loops 14, which are of a length slightly in excess of twice the diameter of the wire. The offsets 0, it will be seen, are formed near the top of the device, and above these offsets the wire is upwardly directed to form the extremities 15. By reason of these upward extensions the placing of the device on the line is facilitated, as these extremities, in conjunc- IlC rect the clothes-line into the openings bedated within the loops 14.

tween the arms 13.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings there has been showna modified form of clamping device which consists simply of a ring or coil 18, preferably of resilient wire, which is coiled moderately tight upon the link portions 1 and 2, said ring being slidable and adjustable between the middle portion of the link and the adjacent loop 6.

In practice the individual links of this invention are to be connected in any convenient manner to form a chain or line of the de sired length, which is then stretched after the manner of anordinary clothes-line. The corners or edges of the articles that are to be suspended are introduced through the loops 6 and are slipped in between the normally contacting portions of the end members 2 2 and body 1 of the link, where they will be securely held by frictional contact with said portions. Whenever necessary, in order to exert a stronger tension, one of the clamping devices (shown in detail in Fig. 3,) may be placed upon the link, as in Fig. 2, by sliding the portions 1 2 between the side members 13 of the offsets 0 and then turning the clamping device until the members 1 2 are accommo By adjusting the clamping device upon the link with relation to the loop 6 the tension or holding power of the link may be regulated, as will be readily understood. When the spiral clampingrings 18 (shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings) are used, such clamping-rings may be readily pushed into position for operation to regulate the tension, as will be very apparent to the person using the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed i s 1. A link consisting of a strip of resilient wire having end members bent in the direc tion of each other and formed with ears at the extremities of the link, loops adjacent to said ears, and portions contacting with the body of the wire extending in the direction ofeach other from the loops and provided with upturned extremities; in combination with a connecting-plate having apertures for the upturned extremities and provided with laterally-extending wrapping-strips. 2. A link having end members double upon and contacting with the body portion and provided with upturned extremities, in

ing apertures engaging the u turned extremi ties; said plate having also aterally-extending strips wrapped upon the wires and over the body of the plate.

4. A link having resilient contacting portions, in combination with removable clamping means adjustable upon said link for re taining said contacting portions in close relation, said means com rising a single piece of wire bent into two s ightly-spaced parallel portions for permitting the clamping means to he slipped on and off the link, and a loop connecting the said parallel portions and normally engaging around the contacting portions of the link.

5. A link having resilient contacting portions and a loop at the end thereof, in combination with clamping means adjustably and removably engaging the contacting portions to hold them in close relation, said means comprising a single piece of wire bent into two slightly-spaced parallel portions for permitting the clamping means to be slipped on and off the link, a loop connecting the said parallel ortions and normally engaging around t e contacting portions of the link, and terminals at the ends of the parallel portions opposite from the loop which extend in opposite directions and at an angle to the said portions.

6. A link having contacting resilient portions, in combination with a clamping device consisting of a Ushaped member having 0&- set separated parallel portions terminating in elongated loops, and terminal extensions beyond said offset portions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES w. BoEs Witnesses:

.B. J OHNSON,

O. M. ORGAIN. 

